"Christians do too much praying and not doing?"

Again, I'm not expert on this, but from my walk so far I've notice that many people ridicule "us" Christians for not doing enough. We don't walk the talk. There are some truth in this. First, "we" Christians do need to follow-up on what we pray for (e.g. I'll pray for you) whenever we tell others we'll pray for them. When we pray for them, God could be answering our prayer for this individual and not expect Him to answer in our way (His way!)). One example of this is, I told my sister I'll be praying for her. However, God can speak to me about being part of the solution (God is the solution) to a particular problem. I expected some "miraculous sign" to fall from the sky, but I can be the "sign" to her.

Here is a better example that just fell on me. I was praying for this particular individual who is in jail. God sent him to me unexpectedly one day and received him to help with him. I didn't expect him to be out of jail when I first saw him. I was caught off guard, but I did remember praying for this guy.

The other side to "Christians don't do enough, but pray" is that this is necessary. We "Christians" can't do everything. In fact, we need to let the "Maters of the Universe"-Heavenly Father take care of these matters. Sometimes Christians pick the "wrong battles", and end up "screwing it up" as we take matters in our own hands.

For example, (again this is my opinion-freedom of speeeh, right?) there are Christians who take political issues (e.g. homosexuality, abortion, etc..) in their own hands, where they go overboard (e.g. heart start to hardened, hating the "eneimies", they start to do what only God supposed to do "judge", and forget about love-1 Corinthians 13). Yes, there are times to take a stand and be a "voice to the voiceless" or "speak for those who cannot speak for themselves" Proverbs 31:8(e.g. persecuted church, widows, fatherless children, etc...). We need to "wait" on God and anticipate God will move through us or even not through us in His timing!

"How to pray?"
*see "The Lord's Prayer" down below (scroll down)

I've talked to God since I grew-up "knee-high", which I've learned growing-up to Catholic parents. However, my prayer life really didn't start until I came to a growing personal relationship with God my freshmen year in college. I remember when I started to get involved with other believers at UMM prayer gatherings. I never really actually prayed outloud with a group of people listening to me in public until my freshmen year at my residential hall of Gay II-II. The only prayer I've prayed outloud was "Our Father..." (Matthew 6:9-13)during Sunday mass-synchronized publicly! Jesus told us how to pray, but to NOT exactly say this in repetition all the time. It took awhile to start praying with a group of people where I would say it outloud by myself. As you do it more, you'll be more confident and more relaxed. At first, I was a little nervous and sweaty as I was self-conscious on what the others in the group may think. Then, I started to close my eyes and not look at the others and picture God is right there; this then became a regular habit to this day!

"After God's own heart..."

There is so many testimonies on how God has answered many prayers of mine. Also, there are many prayers that I've forgotten or prayed for that I didn't know it was answered. One thing I remind people about prayer, it's not like rubbing a lamp and getting all your 3 wishes come true from a genie. Prayer is like seeking after God's heart, which comes when one seeks Him through a personal relationship.

When I pray, I make sure I ask according to God's will. For example, "I would like a million dollars", may not be God's will. However, I can pray for financial provision to help pay some bills. He may night drop money from the sky, but may open a door to a job that will help pay your bills.

"Prayer Pocket Calender Book"

As I've grown to know God more, my prayers have been less and less selfish. God has layed in my heart to pray for people He has put in my path daily. I even have a prayer journal of people that God puts in my path day to day. I have this handy calender pocket book, where I put pretty much everybody's names listed each day. When I get very personal with people, I write down a list of specific personal prayer requests to help remember my last conversation with them next time I get in contact with them. I meet so many people doing campus ministry work and other day to day activities, so I do this "reminder-prayer pocketbook" to help not forget what I talk about with them.

24/7 Prayer-Individual

I try to constantly pray 24/7. Yes, even in my sleep or after-really...I've woken up in the "middle of the night" at times and had this significant/insignificant dream. If it's a person I know in my dream, I try to do my best to pray for that person as I'm still in a sleepy mood. Or even I pray for a particular situation/circumstance when I have a dream of an unknown person/group of people. Dreams is another topic that I can do another report on. Till then, just please ask me about this topic!

Other times I pray:

-when I'm driving/riding my bike through a particular town/city along the highway
-through town, I try to pray for houses/businees-especially if I know any particular person(s) of that place
-during a conversation with people in all circumstances (angry, happy, sad, etc...)
e.g. We can talk to God as Jesus did to His Heavenly Father that is noted many times in the Gospels of the New Testament. Also, as many others in the Old Testament, like Moses...

4 When the LORD saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, "Moses! Moses!" And Moses said, "Here I am." 5 "Do not come any closer," God said. "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." 6 Then he said, "I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob." At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.-Exodus 3

-bathroom-yes!
-meal times (one time a friend of mine prayed with his friends at a Perkins restaurant during lunch, and some older adults admired this "young group" of people praying that this older adult ended up paying this groups' meal-wow!)

Daily Devotions

This is somewhat my daily "routine" devotionals I try to do that helps me persevere in my faith daily:

MORNING:
-I sometimes wake-up with some dream that I can't remember, so I kneel right by my bed for awhile seeking my Heavenly Father for wisdom, understanding, or interpretation (symbolisis) of the dream.
-God sometimes reveals bits of the dream or even thoughts, names, worship song (I actually would try to sing the whole song to get "fueled up" as I do every Sunday services), or verses related/unrelated. I then write it down in my prayer journal or dream notebook next to my bed.
*I feel God doesn't reveal my dreams right aways or never because He just wants me to spend time with him by seeking what the dream was about.
-I try to read a Bible verse or eat up some "soul food" /breakfast to give me energy (also asking God to fill you up with the Holy Spirit) for the day. I challenge myself to remember the verse/word throughout the day whenever I physically eat to help reflect throughout the day.
-When I start getting dress, I try to remember the Scripture verses (categories of gifts) about "putting the armor of God" (Ephesians 6). In fact, I try to challenge myself to remember Scripture verses relating to what I do in the natural throughout the day. For example, I "try" to eat a bananna, which is a fruit every morning. I then try to pray for the "fruits of the spirit" (Galatians 5). Also, I pray that God will enable me to use all the "spiritual gifts" (1 Corinthians 12) according to His will, timing, and place.-Whenever I forget to pray for the "equipping" verses mentioned above, I sometimes remember to do this sometime early in the day (e.g. driving, at work, etc...). I remember (might have mentioned this earlier) during a campus bible study group (Alpha tell Him how we're feeling and why we think we're feeling that way. God just wants our hearts, just the way they are. If we simply hand them to Him, He will change them. It may not happen instantly, but when we surrrender, change will come.

This I know to be true.I also know that we can claim each moment as new in Jesus. I can decide to start this moment as new and forget about what has happened before now. From this moment on my day can be fresh, new and exciting. Even thinking about it and sharing my thoughts with you gives me joy and peace. God does change hearts and minds. Just ask Him. Even if it seems silly to talk to yourself, the truth is, He's listening right next to you. What have you got to lose?I pray these thoughts encourage you in some way and that God is moving in your heart in the way that you need Him to. Take care and God bless.
~Erin (Wednesday, July 7, 2004 7:31 PM)

I got this e-mail on a different outlook about praying for others, which I accidentally deleted. It went something like this:

"5 Prayer of A Hand"
1.Thumb-Pray for your family, the people that are close to you.
2.Pointing Finger-Pray for pastors, teacher, ministers, missionaries, who need wisdom as they are used by God to direct/guide the "sheep" or "followers" of Christ to the "right(eous)" direction-God, Father, Son!
3. Middle Finger-Pray for authoriative leaders (eg. United Nations, President, Governor, Mayor, or anyone in a leadership position that makes decision for the "whole" world, nation, state, city, or community
4. Weak Finger (according to pianists)-Pray for the weak, sick, oppressed, etc..
5. Pinky Finger-Pray for "least", which includes youself,

"True or not".....fwd by Randy Gardley (UMM Alumn 00')

Subject: The Power of Prayer

Here's a message that will bring you chills.Have you ever felt the urge to pray for someone and then just putit on a list and said, "I'll pray for them later."? Or has anyoneever called you and said, "I need you to pray for me, I have this need."? Read the following story that was sent to me and may it change the way thatyou may think about prayer and also the way you pray. You will be blessed by this. A missionary on furlough told this true story while visiting his home church in Michigan...

"While serving at a small field hospital in Africa, every two weeks I traveled by bicycle through the jungle to a nearby city for supplies. Thiswas a journey of two days and required camping overnight at the halfway point. Onone of these journeys, I arrived in the city where I planned to collectmoney from a bank, purchase medicine and supplies, and then begin mytwo-day journey back to the field hospital. Upon arrival in thecity, I observed two men fighting, one of whom had been seriously injured.I treated him for his injuries and at the same time talked to himabout the Lord Jesus Christ. I then traveled two days, camping overnight, and arrived home without incident. Two weeks later I repeated my journey. Uponarriving in the city, I was approached by the young man I hadtreated. He told me that he had known I carried money and medicines. He said,"'Some friends and I followed you into the jungle, knowing you wouldcamp overnight. We planned to kill you and take your money and drugs.

But just as we were about to move into your camp, we saw that youwere surrounded by 26 armed guards." At this I laughed and said that Iwas certainly all alone out in that jungle campsite. The young manpressed the point, however, and said, "No sir, I was not the only person to see the guards. My five friends also saw them, and we all counted them.It was because of those guards that we were afraid and left you alone."

At is point in the sermon, one of the men in the congregation jumpedto his feet and interrupted the missionary and asked if he could tell himthe exact day this happened. The missionary told the congregation thedate, and the man who interrupted told him this story:"On the night of your incident in Africa, it was morning here and Iwas preparing to go play golf. I was about to putt when I felt the urge to pray for you. In fact, the urging was so strong, I called men in thischurch to meet with me here in the sanctuary to pray for you. Would all ofthose men who met with me on that day stand up?" The men who had met together to pray that day stood up.

The missionary wasn't concerned with who they were, he was toobusy counting how many men he saw. There were 26.

This story is an incredible example of how the Spirit of the Lordmoves in mysterious ways. If you ever hear such prodding, go along with it.Nothing is ever hurt by prayer except the gates of hell. I encourage you to forward this to as many people as you know. If we all take it toheart, we can turn this world towards Christ once again. As the above truestory clearly illustrates, "With God all things are possible." And moreimportantly, how God hears and answers the prayers of the faithful. After youread this, please pass it on and give God thanks for the beautifulgift of your faith, for the powerful gift of prayer, and for the manymiracles He works in your own daily life... and then pass it on.

5 Minutes Bible Study - What's your Prayer List?